Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-02-18
THE SCHOOL BOARD ALARMED.
Statements Made by Senator Plumb
Cause Them Anxiety.

PRESIDENT DARLINGTON SAYS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM
Is NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. TO FILL UP TIL
HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING WITH Low GRADE PUPILS
TO ABOLISH LONGEVITY PAY, AND LIMIT TEACHERS
sALARIRs-THE SCHOOL BOARD no MEMORABILIA
CONGRESS AND THE PEOPLE.
A special meeting Of the school board was held
last hlght 10 hear report from the president, Mr.
Darlington, and Superintendent Powell, who vert
appointed special committee to inform the Sen
ate subcommittee on District appropriations IL
regard 10 the wants Of the schools. Mr.. Darl
1ngton made statement, recit1ng what
had been stated at an interview between
the special committee and the Senate sub
committee-Messrs. Plumb, Dawes and Cock
reA. Mr.. Darlington said that Senator Plumt
stated at the outset that the subcommittee haC
Deen informed, and believed, that the educat1ona
OF the community are administered solely
n Iae OF the higher grade schools to the
0etrlmenC OF the lower grade Schools and that the
poor cMldren, who attended the lower schools
on behalf OF the board, Mr. Darlington said ht
had stated that no single application for Admission
10 lne ScnOOs mad been denied; that teachers wert
Guilty was that Congress mad not provided sum
clent room to accommodate all the schools during
every hour of each day.
PREFERRED TO BELIEVE THE CrrIzKNs
MI. FiumD said he had been Informed by q citt
zen's committee, mentioning ex-Mayor Emery
and Mr.. B. II. Warner In relation TO the condition
OF the schools here; that he preferred to believe
them, and as consequence he proposed to abolish
Ine longevity pay OF teachers to make the mini
mum Ieacners salary 800 and to prohibit the ap
pOlnCment OF any more teachers at q SALARY
greater than 500. II he could influence legisla.
t10n, the Senator said, according to Mr. Dating.
ton, that he would empty the High school entirely
ana tne schools OF higher grades and then fn uI
WIN tne younger children. Mr.. Powell, Mr. Dar
Mngton said made an earnest effort to disabuse
the minds OF the committee and explained the
IongevlIy system, which continued only over o
PER vi iour years and was intended to encOur
tnaL u was simply an infamous system OF pen.
SlOnlng CeacherS upon the government. MIR
riumD Iurther Informed the special committee
places could be filled in q week. Mr. DarinotOI
sald tnat this position taken by the Senate sub
cOmmtUee threatened to very seriously impaiI
tne ScaOOl system OF the District II 1t did not en-
He Old not believe that Mr.. Warner or Mr.
Emery made the statements attributed them. Ht
nad calied on Mr.. Warner, who said he had no,
Deen 10 see the sub b-committee and that the state
menIS attnDuted to him were without foundation
MI. warner further said that he knew OF NO cas-
o. any cmid that had been refused admission K
.I do not wish tointimate," said Mr.. Darlington
tnaS M; Plumb did not believe what he said. Il
| ProoaDtS some one made these statements tt
Tne special committee, he said thought 1t best to
| eau special meeting of the board, SO that the
| teacaers and the community might be apprised o
tne situation and that the responsibility for any
action, such as Mr. Plumb proposed might RESI-
WIN the Senate committee and the citizens com
mlttee, 70 which Mr.. Plumb referred. Nj. Darling
.,,. .on saa1 That he had urged the needs OF tht
!ntoIme0 that the subcommittee was not Opel
20 CONVICTION from Onlctal sources. The people
! NJ harrington said. should be advised that thi'